Wayne Rooney has hailed his young Manchester United teammates for getting the club into Sunday's Carling Cup final.

The Brazilian twins at full-back, Rafael and Fabio, 18, look stars of the future.

Central midfielder Darron Gibson, 21, has been talked about as a future Roy Keane, while striker Danny Welbeck, 18, has already announced his arrival into the first-team squad with a couple of cracking goals.

Rooney said: "The young players who have come through have been brilliant, especially Rafael.

"He has come in so young and being a defender it is often difficult to express yourself but he has done that.

"Danny Welbeck has done well when he has played and Darron Gibson has come on a lot and he is showing now what we all knew he had.

"They are all keeping us on our toes. They train with the first team all the time. Sometimes the games are a bit tight because there are that many players training.

"But they bring a lot of fun and energy to the team. They have done unbelievably well when they have come in, when you consider they don't play every week and it is just a game here and there.

"They have been better than anyone imagined. It shows you the future is bright at the club."